US 11,724,627 B2 · Flexible tank with cape, discharge apparatus and method

Abstract

A flexible tank is used to transport bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials inside of a multi-modal shipping container. It has water proof inner layers and an outer layer, which are formed and welded together to have seams at both ends of the flexible tank. A discharge valve is provided at one end of the flexible tank and an additional piece of material, referred to as a cape, is attached at the other end of the flexible tank. The flexible tank is situated in the container so that the end with the discharge valve is at the container opening and the end with the attached cape is at the rear of the container. The cape can be used by equipment positionable at the opening of the container to completely discharge the bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials from the flexible tank by pulling and winding up the cape and the layers of the flexible tank from the rear of the container.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A flexible tank for transporting bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials in a rectangular shipping container, comprising:

at least one inner layer made of a flexible water-proof polymeric material, said at least one inner layer having first and second ends;
an outer shell made of a flexible polymeric material and forming an interior, said at least one inner layer positioned inside said interior of said outer shell, said outer shell having first and second ends;
a discharge valve extending through said outer shell and said at least one inner layer, said discharge valve being located near said first end of said at least one inner layer and said first end of said at least one outer shell;
and
at least one cape having a length greater than a greatest width of the cape, first and second sides equal to the length of the cape, and first and second ends along the width of the cape, said first end attached to said outer shell at or near the second end of said outer shell and a second end that is not attached to any part of the flexible tank.

2 more elements

A method for discharging bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials from a flexible tank inside a shipping container, comprising:

attaching a cape to a rear end of a flexible tank opposite the front end of the flexible tank having a discharge valve at an opening of the shipping container;
positioning a discharge apparatus with a take-up bar and a stripping and positioning bar, both of the take-up bar and stripping and positioning bar being located inside the shipping container above the flexible tank when the apparatus is positioned at the opening of said shipping container;
attaching the cape to the take-up bar such that the cape goes around a portion of the stripping and positioning bar as the cape is being pulled towards the take-up bar;
drivably rotating the take-up bar to pull the cape and the flexible tank from the rear end of the shipping container, thereby urging the complete discharge of said bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials out the discharge valve of the flexible tank;
and
winding the cape and the depleted flexible tank around the take-up bar.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flexible tank with cape, discharge apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Flexible tank with cape, discharge apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20